Diaper rinser



J. A. CHASE DIAPER RINSER Aug. 30, 1966 Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOR.

MI W A. 5

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,269,156 DIAPER RINSER Jennie A. Chase, 456 Fillmore St., Denver, Colo. Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,505 4 Claims. (Cl. 68-214) This invention relates to improvements in rinsing devices and more particularly to devices for rinsing diapers in toilet bowls, squeezing excess water from the diaper and then discharging the diaper from the device.

Soiled baby diapers are, in most instances, accumulated in a container for a later convenient washing time. The soiled diapers must, however, be first rinsed and then stored in their wet condition. Common practice shows rinsing of the diapers in the toilet bowl which provides convenient waste disposal. The rinsing out of the diapers is generally a messy chore. Devices for rinsing out diapers have been proposed, but these require unusual handling of the diapers or they fail to squeeze the diapers out during or after the rinsing, etc.

According to the present invention I have provided a simplified device without springs, levers, or loose parts which includes a container with a foraminous, releasable bottom and a squeezing plunger. A diaper may be placed in the container, the container placed in the toilet bowl and water flushed through the diaper and by reciprocal movement of the plunger the diaper may be further rinsed and then squeezed to thoroughly flush water through and from the fabric. After the rinsing procedure the diaper may then be squeezed quite dry by pressing the plunger against the diaper resting on the bottom of the container. When sufiiciently squeezed, the diaper is released by turning a manipulating handle which opens the foraminous bottom, dropping the diaper int-o the desired location.

Included among the objects and advantages of the present invention is a diaper ninser which provides a simple and convenient means for rinsing diapers. The invention provides a diaper holding container provided with plunger means for squeezing a contained diaper and a releasable foraminous bottom for the free flow of water therethro-ugh. The container provides means for holding a diaper in a toilet during flushing operations thereof rinsing the idaper and preventing it from being sucked down the trap or coming into contact with hidden parts of the toilet. The container is provided with an upper manipulating handle, for conveniently holding the container while operating the plunger, and which is, also, 'arr-anged to open the foraminous bottom for discharge of the diaper without touching the same.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained by referring to the following description and appended illustrations in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1 illustrating the open and closed position of the foraminous bottom thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container in loading position with the plunger rotated out of way for admission of a diaper into the container; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the device of FIG. 1.

In the form of the invention selected for the illustration, a tubular container 1 is provided with a series of upper openings 2 and lower openings 3 all of which are adjacent an end. The container is a tubular member having two open ends and may be made of any suitable material, for example, plastic, metal, or the like. The openings are provided for the passage of water and, therefore, may be of any shape and number, the particular shape illustrated is a matter of design only. The

Patented August 30, 1966 container may, also, be made of such materials as screening (hardware cloth), punched sheet, etc. formed in a tubular configuration, so long as the material is sufiiciently strong to support the other elements thereon. A crossbar 4 having a curved end 5 is hingedly afiixed to the top of the container and is arranged to move from a closed position shown in FIG. 1 to an open position shown in FIG. 3 so as to provide a tull open end for loading diapers into the container. Other hinging arrangements are, of course, useful for providing opening of the her. On the end of the bar opposite the hinge arrangement is a latch 6 which hooks over the edge of the container and secures the cross member into position on the container. Any convenient latching may be used. A plunger 7 is mounted on a plunger rod 8 which is reciprocally mounted through the cross member 4. The rod 8 may be substantially as long as the length of the container, and if longer a stop is provided so that the plunger will not drop through the container opening. The rod terminates at the end opposite the plunger in a handle member 9. For convenience the handle is annular, resting on the bar to prevent the plunger from emerging from the bottom of the container. However, any other type of handle may be used for gripping the rod and movement of the plunger 7. The plunger 7 is shown as a solid member, however, it may be perforated with suflicient holes to aid the pass-age of water through the fabric in the container. :It is preferably only slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the container for free movement and .to prevent the fabric from flowing around the plunger, and thus contain the fabric below the plunger.

The end opposite the plunger support or bottom of the container is closed by a releasable perforated closure or cover member 15 which is pivotally mounted at one side. The mounting for the cover 15 includes a small tubular member 16 extending along the outside of the container and generally axially thereof. An elongated rod 17 passes through the tubular member 16 and is secured at 18 to the closure 15. Other means may be used to support the rod in position, for example, top and bottom U clamps secured to the container. An offset handle 19 is secured to the opposite end of the rod 17 and the lateral oifset member 20 provides means for holding the rod from slipping down in the tube 16 under the plunger. A small extension or latch arm 21 extends beyond the closure 15 from a point opposite the hinge and it is arranged to pass into an extending hook 24 secured to the container for locking the closure in position covering the container bottom. Due to the fact that pressure is exerted against the bottom, the latch arangement of the extension 21 and the hook 24 and the offset 20 of the hinge holds the closure in position while pressure is being exerted against it. The closure is readily releasable when the handle 19 is rotated to turn the closure from over the end of the container.

The device of the invention is utilized initially by releasin the lock 6 and moving the plunger back to open the top of the container, as shown in FIG. 3. The bottom closure is moved to its innermost or covering position so as to provide a container with a forarninous bottom. A babys soiled breechcloth is then placed in the container and the cross member 4 is moved back into position with the latch 6 locked on the container. The container is then placed in the toilet bowl and the toilet is flushed. The cloth in the container rises and falls with the water rinsing it. The container prevents the diaper from being sucked away with the water and, also, prevents it from touching the toilet bowl. The plunger 7 may be moved up and down to force water through the fabric for additional agitation and rinsing of the diaper. Also, the toilet may be flushed as many times as desired while the diaper is safely contained, allowing the water to course freely through the fabric. When the diaper is rinsed sufficiently the container is lifted out of the water and the plunger depressed to squeeze the excess water from the diaper. The container is then moved over to the depository for the diaper and the handle 19 is rotated to open the closure thereby releasing the diaper into the container. For all the operating positions of the container. One hand of the user grasps the handle 9 and the other hand grasps the handle 19. Thus all manipulations may be performed in this position, including the movement of the plunger and the opening of the bottom closure 15.

While the invention has been described with reference to a particular device, it is obvious that changes may be made in various parts of the rinser without deviating from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Different hinging arrangements may be provided for holding the various elements, simple ones being shown.

I claim:

1. A diaper rinser comprising a tubular container having open ends, a plunger mounted at one end for reciprocal movement in said container, means mounting said plunger to said container for movement into and out of said container and pivotally away therefrom for loading a diaper therein, said plunger being slightly smaller in cross-sectional dimensions than the passage in said container and having a manipulating handle, a perforate closure over the opposite end of said container and hingedly mounted so as to pivot laterally of the axis of said container providing a full opening of the bottom of said container, and a rotatable manipulating handle secured to said container extending beyond the top end thereof and connected at its opposite end to said closure for pivoting the same, said handle extending a substantial distance beyond the container at said top end for gripping by a user.

2. A diaper rinser comprising a circular tubular container having open ends, a plunger mounted at one end for reciprocal movement in said container, means mounting said plunger to said container for reciprocal movement in said container and pivotally away from said end for loading a diaper therein, said plunger having a circular head of a slightly smaller diameter than the passage in said container and a plunger rod having handle means, stop means on said plunger to limit inward movement of said head, a perforate closure over the opposite end of said container and hingedly mounted so as to pivot laterally of the axis of said container providing a full opening of the bottom of said container, a rotatable shaft positioned along said container, an offset handle mounted on the top end of said shaft, said shaft being connected at its lower end to said closure for pivoting said closure, said handle extending a substantial distance beyond the container at the opposite end for gripping by a user.

3. In a diaper rinser having a tubular member and a plunger with a manipulating handle for moving reciprocally in said tubular member, the improvement of means for mounting said plunger on said tubular member for entry into said tubular member and pivotally away from the opening thereof so as to provide a full open end of said tubular member, a perforate closure over the opposite end of said tubular member and hingedly mounted so as to pivot laterally of the axis of said tubular member, the hinge of said closure being adjacent the wall of said container so as to permit lateral opening of said closure leaving a full opening of said tubular member, and a manipulating handle secured to said closure and extending beyond said tubular member at the end opposite said closure and in the same direction as said handle to said plunger.

4. A diaper rinser comprising a tubular member having open ends and perforations adjacent at least one end, a plunger having an elongated handle mounted at one end of said tubular member for reciprocal movement therein, means for mounting said plunger for movement into said tubular member and to be pivotally movable out of said tubular member providing a full diameter opening thereof, said plunger having a head of slightly smaller diameter than the passage in said tubular member, a perforate closure hingedly mounted at one side of said tubular member and arranged to pivot laterally of the axis of said tubular member thereby providing full opening thereof, latch means for said closure to prevent axial movement thereof, and a manipulating handle connected to said closure and extending in the direction of the opposite end and beyond the end of said tubular member so as to provide a handle for a user adjacent the handle of said plunger.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 268,232 11/1882 Hilpert et al. 68-122 480,083 8/1892 Flynn 68-43 3,039,287 6/1962 Sharples 68 214 FOREIGN PATENTS 351,934 3/1961 Switzerland.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DIAPER RINSER COMPRISING A TUBULAR CONTAINER HAVING OPEN ENDS, A PLUNGER MOUNTED AT ONE END FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT IN SAID CONTAINER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID PLUNGER TO SAID CONTAINER FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SAID CONTAINER AND PIVOTALLY AWAY THEREFROM FOR LOADING A DIAPER THEREIN, SAID PLUNGER BEING SLIGHTLY SMALLER IN CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSIONS THAN THE PASSAGE IN SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING A MANIPULATING HANDLE, A PERFORATE CLOSURE OVER THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CONTAINER AND HINGEDLY MOUNTED SO AS TO PIVOT LATERALLY OF THE AXIS OF SAID CONTAINER PROVIDING A FULL OPENING OF THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER, AND A ROTATABLE MANIPULATING HANDLE SECURED TO SAID CONTAINER EXTENDING BEYOND THE TOP END THEREOF AND CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE END TO SAID CLOSURE FOR PIVOTING THE SAME, SAID HANDLE EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BEYOND THE CONTAINER AT SAID TOP END FOR GRIPPING BY A USER. 